Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Owen walked in and came right over to see Lexie. Then put his arms out and asked to hold her. We told him he'd need to take off his jacket. He stripped the coat off the fastest I've ever seen him move and ran over the chair and stretched his arms out waiting for her.

Carter and Lexie.

Our three kiddos. Still a bit in awe that we are now parents of three.

My mom was there for the birth and then went home to bring the boys back.

My mom with her first grand daughter just moments after Lexie was born.

The boys lasted about 15 minutes and then they began to climb everything in our room. At that point we said goodnight, it was a short and great visit.

Mike's parents even managed to sneak away from work to come meet Lexie and bring us dinner.

Aunt Nikki was able to sneak away from her twins and come say hello and bring dessert. Also, our good friends Marie and Emily stopped by to meet Lexie and brought a bouquet of pink balloons. What a wonderful first night filled with people we love.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

The day Lexie was born we checked into the hospital at 7:30 a.m. (we were running late due to weather and a need for a bowl of Cream of Wheat that morning.) The plan was to have my OB come break my water before 8 a.m. and see what my body would do. Hoping it would kick right into labor. By the time I actually checked into the hospital I was dilated to a 5+ and 80 effaced. I was half way through labor before it actually even started.I guess that would be the silver lining to being in early labor for almost six weeks.

For weeks prior to this day I talked with my mom about having a natural labor/delivery. I never really decided either way, but I was constantly thinking about it. Wondering what my body could do and what I could handle. I kept thinking I am already half way there, maybe I could do this. I also never really mentioned this to anyone other than my mom, just in case, I didn't want to commit either way. If I told anyone it would feel like a commitment. I wanted to just see how it went.

Fast forward to that morning. My water is broken and then Mike and I walk the halls for an hour. Laps and laps. We began talking about labor, could I really do it natural. Could I handle that. I remember saying to him, "Either way they don't give out gold stars or trophies for having a natural delivery." I could back down at anytime and get the epidural.

I was tired so we turned down the lights and the nurse gave me 30 minutes to rest. The

anesthesiologist came in to talk and sign forms. I was nervous about the epidural, not sure why I had one with both boys, but this time I was nervous. I told her I hadn't decided and was going to see how it goes.

My lower back started to ache, contractions started to come, we walked a little more and then made our way back to the room to be monitored. My great nurse came to check on me and gave me some positions and things I could do to help with the contractions and back labor.

At 10:45 a.m. active labor started. It came slowly at first and then like a freight train it hit hard and fast and never let up. My contractions would come fast and hold strong. Even the nurse commented on how long they were. (This is why my deliveries go fast.) I was breathing through them, relying very much on Mike to rub my back, help me focus and tell me I could do it. I remember once the first real contraction hit crying and telling him I wanted the epidural. Once the contraction stopped and I could think again I told him never mind.

More intense waves of contractions came and I only had small moments between them to recoup. I asked the nurse to check me and I was almost an 8. I had moved from a 6 to 8 in 15 minutes. She called the OB to come over.

Sometime in the midst of this my mom came. I was focused on breathing, eyes tight shut, holding Mike's entire arm across my body for comfort. Just breathe. I'm not going to lie, it was brutal. The moment when my body began to transition it was brutal. It's amazing what the body can do and what happens during labor. The feelings of nausea letting you know you are close, then the feeling when your legs tingle because the baby is moving down. The OB came in and I pleaded to her to take the baby out. I even pleaded for an epidural at one point- however it was far too late- and I knew that is was almost over. But mostly I just closed my eyes and took deep breaths, then short little breaths. At one point I believe everyone in the room was breathing with me, mom, husband, both nurses and my OB.

I was finally there - a 10, it was time. I think I pushed for 5-10 minutes and in about 3 good pushes our little girl came into the world. At 12:34 p.m. Lexie was here. What a relief, a literal relief of everything. The pain and pressure gone. She was here, it was over. She had the cord wrapped around her neck twice, but I was told my doc was really quick to untangle her. She was healthy and she was here. I had done it.

Once she was cleaned up and looked over by the pediatrician they put her in my arms and I fell in love immediately. This was our little girl, the one we've been waiting for. Finally here in our arms and feisty as ever. Her lungs definitely worked and she already had an opinion.

I remember looking at her, then looking up at Mike and telling him I deserved a gold star or a trophy after that. I still believe this. Gold stars for sure are much deserved!

I wasn't out of control, I didn't yell at anyone or scream. The OB and nurse told me I was really controlled and I was surprised.

After going through a natural labor and delivery I have a much better understanding of the pain scale. A better understanding and appreciation for my body. I'm proud of myself and so happy things went well. I felt better after the delivery than I had with the boys deliveries and I really feel like Lexie and I both recovered quicker.

Our first few moments together with our little girl.

On the scale. 7 lbs 10 ozs.

Lexie's first bath at the hospital with our nurse Louise.

Holding Lexie after delivery. New babies are miracles and pieces of heaven. I know we've been so immensly blessed and am grateful for it all.

This is the morning of the 15th right before we left for the hospital to be induced. Funny how I could literally be in labor for six weeks and still have to be induced at the end. The plan was to go in early and have the OB break my water and hope labor progressed from there.

The second time it snowed while we were here. The other day it snowed was when my sister in law Nikki had her babies. Must be a Dille baby delivery day treat, fresh white snow.

Last pregnancy picture. Walking into the hospital in Boise. Third time is a charm. This was my third time checking into labor and delivery. Although this time we knew we would not leave until our little girl arrived.

A few notes about this pregnancy that I don't want to forget.

Cravings:

The last month has been Cream of Wheat. Twice a day with an embarrassingly amount of butter and sugar. I'd pick a bowl of this over anything!

Coke icee cravings are back and also loved fresh tacos. My favorite places have been Chipolte and Cafe Rio. So glad my last six weeks were in the States where I could easily get Mexican food.

Baby:

Our little girl is most active between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.

She's constantly stretched out and mostly lays on my right side.

Pregnancy:

Once past the first trimester (well more like 18-20 weeks) the nausea subsided and for the most part I felt pretty great the second trimester.

I was able to continue to teach Boot Camp classes until 31 weeks and then continued to work out until 36 weeks here. Once I was dilated to a 4, I stopped working out until Mike got here. Then at 38 weeks I went back to the gym, hit it hard hoping to induce labor but no such luck.

The last week I literally did EVERYTHING I could to try to bring labor on. Worked out hard. Lots of squats with weights at the gym. Zumba classes, lots of walking, running stairs, jumping on the trampoline, had a great friend rub my legs and show us pressure points to help bring on contractions, got a pedicure hoping that would help, and the morning of the 13th (I really wanted to have her on my moms birthday- I was a bit heartbroken she didn't come that day) I got on the treadmill and ran sprints. Lots of them. No luck. That afternoon the OB stripped my membranes and even that didn't help.

I believe Lexie was determined to keep me on my toes and wanted her own birthday.

So we scheduled an induction date. Feb. 15th. I would have liked to have been induced the week before, but apparently the hospital has a new policy not allowing inductions before 39 weeks except in certain cases. So even with that, my OB had to have the high risk head OB sign off on our one day early induction.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The past month has been a challenge. We've been away from Mike waiting out the last two months of this pregnancy. With that, I started to dilate the very beginning of January, so essentially I've been laboring for five weeks. Never did I think this would happen.

Mike is now here and I thought for sure she would come Sunday, then Monday, then today. No luck. I went in this afternoon and was hoping I would walk across the street to the hospital and have our baby. Nope. Still dilated the same, but am more effaced. Moved from 50% to now 80%, but even with that, I am not having consistent contractions.

I was a bit disappointed. But to be realistic, she's not due until Feb. 23. I will be 38 weeks on Thursday. I think since this has been going on for so long I've become impatient about it all. But a few more days will be good for us both. She will get bigger, I will get more sleep.

For the lack of posts, I've been updating Face Book for the month with baby updates and progression. I wanted to transfer the updates to the blog for our family journal. Always a great way to document our life.

One last thought, I have a feeling we will have our hands full with this little one. She is unpredictable already.

So baby, this is mom, I'm ready when you are!

Feb. 7...No baby yet. Seriously the longest month ever. She's not officially due until the 23, but laboring for six weeks is making me a bit crazy. Will be 38 weeks on Thursday. Thinking I will hit the gym again hard then. :) Maybe she needs a little coaxing.

Feb. 5, 12:01 p.m....Alright baby, Daddy is here. We're ready when you are. Especially Owen, who has already asked over a handful of times when you are coming out since dad arrived yesterday.

Feb. 4, 3:32 p.m....Back home after 12 hours. Thought for sure little lady was on her way in the midst of labor and then everything slowed down and we waited and waited. I think we (Mike, me, our family, even all of the nurses) have willed her to stop at 5cm. Mike is in route, less than 24 hours. I plan to be slug until then.

Feb. 3, 7:07 p.m....you know it's been a good day when both boys are fast asleep at 6:45 p.m. Deep Breath. Peace and Quiet.

Feb. 3, 4:09 p.m....Still holding out. Watching the boys play and burn off some energy from the couch at jabbers play place. We may make it after all.

Jan. 31...well this little baby lady is not giving up, I am still progressing, now a 4. With OB recommendation, Mike has moved his flight up to Sunday. I'm crossing my legs until then.

Jan. 30, 7:26 p.m....No baby today. hurray. Just a long Target shopping trip by myself with the boys in school, seriously, hours just strolling slowly knocking off things off my shopping/hospital/nesting/packing/repat list. Top of the day, weather in the 50's and an afternoon playing outside with the boys, which then lead to an early bedtime and two boys fast asleep at 6:45.

Jan. 30, 10:48 a.m....Feeling horribly off today. Hoping this is not a sign for the baby to come. Last Friday dilated to a 3 and 50% effaced. Still over a week until Mike gets here. No baby today... no baby today...

Jan. 26, 12:06 p.m.....took both boys into the pediatrician this morning all by my nine month pregnant self. It was awful, they were crazy and I'm pretty sure the doc was thinking to himself why are they having another?

Jan. 24, 7:26 p.m.... baby update. Still a girl, I know, I know... but seeing it on the ultrasound back in the States made it seem final. :) Good thing because I've bought A LOT Of pink while here. Also baby girl is about 6 lbs 4 ozs. Two weeks to go until Mike is here and then we're a go for baby.

Friday, February 3, 2012

I went back into the OB this past Tuesday for my weekly check up. My last doc just left on sabbatical with her husband and will be gone for a few months. So this was my first appointment with my new OB.

I think if this was my first baby, changing docs right now would be awful. But given this is not our first rodeo, but the arrival of our third little one, I'm more at ease and comfortable with the transition. Perhaps, it's because in general I feel relieved to be back in the States and not still in the Sandbox.

Also, I know, really, it's the nurses that do most of the work on delivery day, so I'm praying for fantastic nurses. I digress, back to the new Doc. I really like her and already feel comfortable with her. Now the trick is to go into labor when she is on call or during business hours when she can run across the street to the hospital.

So back to the appointment on Tuesday. If we are friends on face book, this is old news for you. I am still progressing, in fact, pretty sure I shocked the new OB. I am now dilated to a 4, from Friday to Tuesday I moved up another cm. But a bit of relief is that I am still just 50% effaced. She said it was very rare to be this dilated this far and effaced at the end of 36 weeks. My body is getting ready and this baby girl is getting ready too. Which would be fantastic if daddy weren't half way across the world.

So the OB and I talked again. Me, "Mike will be here next Wed. Feb. 8th."OB, long pause... "Yeah, he should come sooner, within the next week really."Me, "So no gym or pretty much anything else right to hold out until he gets here."OB, "yes."

So I left the appointment and called Mike. Earlier that day we talked about what conditions would make us change his flight. Being dilated to a 4, was one of them. So I called and then he got up in the middle of the night and called the airlines to move his flight up a few days.

He will be here on Sunday, three days early. That has left me four days to not go into labor. My mom is now here and is running herd on the boys. Taking care of baths and such, so that I don't have to lift or bend over.

I'm trying to take it easy, spend time off my feet in hopes that gravity will be my friend in keeping our little lady put. I am still having contractions, random still, but I'm sure my body is still progressing.

Only 36 more hours and she can come. When Mike gets off the plane it's game on.

So that is the update. The boys are excited, mostly that Mike will be back and then about having the baby. I'm excited he will be here too. Honestly, I'm nervous about labor and delivery and nervous about having our baby here.